First Abu Dhabi Bank plans ‘record’ $2.4bn dividend

• FAB is UAE’s largest bank by assets
• Proposes 80 fils per share
• Net profit rose 24% in 2025

First Abu Dhabi Bank, the UAE’s largest lender by assets, has proposed a dividend payout of AED8.8 billion ($2.4 billion), or 80 fils per share, for 2025, which it claims is the “largest in its history”, after net profit and operating income registered double-digit growth.

Net earnings rose 24 percent to AED21.1 billion in 2025, compared to AED17.1 billion a year before, supported by a 16 percent annual increase in operating income to AED36.6 billion.

Non-interest income rose 36 percent, while net interest income grew 4 percent, led by double-digit volume growth. Fees and commissions advanced 28 percent, driven by momentum in origination and deal execution.

“The composition of earnings continued to evolve positively, with a higher contribution from non-funded income and steady delivery across business lines and geographies,” group CFO Lars Kramer said in a statement.

He said asset quality strengthened further over the course of the year, with the non-performing loans (NPLs) ratio at a historical low. NPLs stood at AED 13.77 billion as of December 31 2025.

Net profit for the fourth quarter of 2025 grew 22 percent to AED5.1 billion from AED4.2 billion a year ago. Operating income rose 17 percent year on year to AED9 billion.

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Operating expenses increased 5 percent year on year to AED8.2 billion in 2025, driven by ongoing investments in artificial intelligence, digital and technology.

Total assets grew 16 percent year on year to AED1.4 trillion in 2025. Net loans and advances rose 17 percent to AED616 billion, including 28 percent growth in the Islamic financing portfolio.

Customer deposits grew 7 percent annually to AED841 billion.

Mubadala Investment Company, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, owns a 37.9 percent stake in FAB.

The bank’s stock closed at 18.74 on Tuesday. The share has risen more than 7 percent so far this year.